Smark Out Moment

Welcome to another edition of Cheap Pop and Cheap Heat from Smark Out Moment! Each week, we break down the world of professional wrestling and examine two of the polar opposite ends of the spectrum: one thing that was by far the worst thing (Cheap Heat) and the best thing (Cheap Pop) to happen over the past 7 days in sports entertainment. So, what went down this week that we loved and hated about the business?


Finally! After months of being a lukewarm babyface, Seth Rollins has at long last acknowledged the regret that he felt for his time in The Authority and for the dastardly actions of his past.

The contract signing between he and Triple H on Monday Night Raw was easily one of the strongest segments on the go-home show to WrestleMania. Even with a nine month build behind it, we still did not have a real reason to get behind Seth being betrayed by Triple H. His anger was entirely directed at the fact that he was dropped as The Game's chosen one, but not once was there any sign of regret for his actions.

He was a babyface by default, but still came across as the slightly snarky heel. Rollins was recognized as an excellent weaselly heel, but it was always acknowledged by fans that he would one day make an amazing babyface, and I feel that this time is now, and that this is the real second coming of Seth Freakin' Rollins.

Roll on, WrestleMania.


BONUS POP: Jim Ross Returns — There is talk that good ol' J.R will call The Undertaker's match against Roman Reigns tonight. Good call, WWE. Having just lost his wife, this will mean a lot to him, and it will such a joy for us fans to hear him call it too.


Many of the WrestleMania 33 matches have been given the appropriate time and build to develop, but the same cannot be said for the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal. It was great as a one-time event, but does it not feel a little forced at this point? It is a memorial of a main event legend, largely staffed by career jobbers, and almost nothing happens as a result of winning.

I think that it is great that WWE has found a way to give so many wrestlers a WrestleMania moment, but at the same time, it feels a little hollow as the stakes for winning do not feel high.

Battle Royals are fun and a worthy watch when they are for a number one contender spot or a title, but there is something lackluster about winning this one. I want to care, but as WWE has done so little with the winners, we have already been conditioned to not. The fact that it has been placed on the pre-show does little to suggest this year will be any different.

However, with Braun Strowman entered in the mix, I am hoping that they may be able to change it around this year, and actually use it to build a story going forward, or at least maybe throw an old school WrestleMania legend or two into the mix for some cheap pop appeal? Whatever happens, they need to do something more with it, because at the moment, being on it is almost WWE’s way of admitting that they have nothing for you to do anytime soon...


So there you have it, my two choices for the week. What do YOU think are the Cheap Pop and Cheap Heat this week in professional wrestling? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!